SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES – Three Japanese nationals and 14 Filipinos were caught attempting to dig in Capones Island in Zambales province at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday(May 31), police said.

The police caught Domyo Ukari, 56; Shinchi Kawano, 44; and a 15-year-old boy attempting to dig up a tunnel about 120 meters away from the lighthouse at the island’s west side in Barangay (village) Pundakit.

The Japanese did not explain what they were excavating. They were assisted there by Morie Eizo, Lloyd Marlo Cerezo, Arnold Argel, Rexy Maycong, Gregorio Domingo, Effer Tolentino, and Rodrigo Castro, who were detained.

The group had equipment and gadgets commonly used for long-term mine excavation such as a compressor set, a generator set, a case metal detector, a grinder, shovels, jack hammers, hand saws, assorted ropes, and a sonar metal detector.

They also carried steel pipes to be used for scaffoldings.

The municipal government said it did not issue the group any permit to excavate in the area.